Livingston Parish Courthouse project on budget

Published 9:09 AM CDT Jul 23, 2013

LIVINGSTON, La. -

About half the concrete slab has been poured and a third of the structural steel has risen for the new Livingston Parish Courthouse.

Architect Phillip Kern tells The Advocate weather delays have pushed back the estimated completion date to late July 2014, but the project's budget is in the black after a series of minor cosmetic changes and other cost savings were implemented.

The $20.4 million project is funded primarily through $17.2 million in revenue bonds backed by increased filing fees at the Clerk of Court's Office.

Robert Morrison, chief judge of the 21st Judicial District, said the new Livingston courthouse will be a vast improvement over the current building with metal detectors, a more navigable layout and five courtrooms in a single building.